Collapsible umbrella frame

ABSTRACT

A telescopic umbrella frame comprises at least two telescopic stick parts, the upper of which is nearest to the crown of the umbrella and has the smallest cross-section, and the lower of which is nearest to the handle end of the umbrella and has the greatest cross-section, and a main and an auxiliary slider which slide on the stick and which support a canopy frame, the auxiliary slider sliding on the stick between the main slider and the crown, and the main slider being able to be locked to the stick when the canopy frame is open and having an internal crosssection corresponding to the external cross-section of the lower stick part. The upper stick part is provided with projections or a sleeve adjacent the crown, these projections or sleeve being arranged to fit into the bore of the main slider when the main slider is in its locking position with the canopy frame open so that the main slider is held steady on the upper stick part. The sleeve may be provided by an extension on the lower end of the auxiliary slider.

United States Patent Weber 1451 Mar. 21, 1972 [54] COLLAPSIBLE UMBRELLA FRAME Primary ExaniinerPeter M. Caun Attorney-Curt M. Avery, Arthur E. Wilfond, Herbert L. [72] Inventor. Heinz Weber, Hllden, Germany Lerner and Daniel J. Tick y [73] Assignee: Bremshey 81 Co., Solingen-Ohligs, Germany [57] ABSTRACT [22] F iled: Feb. 20, 1969 A telescopic umbrella frame comprises at least two telescopic stick parts, the upper of which is nearest to the crown of the [21 1 Appl' 800852 umbrella and has the smallest cross-section, and the lower of which is nearest to the handle end of the umbrella and has the [30] Foreign Application Priority Data greatest cross-section, and a main and an auxiliary slider which slide on the stick and which support a canopy frame, 1968 Germany 16 32 500'] the auxiliary slider sliding on the stick between the main slider and the crown, and the main slider being able to be locked to I52] US. Cl ..l35/26 the stick when the canopy frame is 0pc" and having an imcp i 5 I I 19/06 nal cross-section corresponding to the external cross-section [58] Field of Search ..135/20, 25, 26 of the lower Stick pan The upper Stick pan is provided Wm projections or a sleeve adjacent the crown, these projections [56] Re'erences Cned or sleeve being arranged to fit into the bore of the main slider when the main slider is in its locking position with the canopy UNITED STATES PATENTS frame open so that the main slider is held steady on the upper 1,028,262 6/1912 OBrien ..l35/25 X stick part. The sleeve may be provided by an extension on the 1,839,309 1/1932 Gundel .....135/26 X lower end ofthe auxiliary slider. 1,902,363 3/1933 Haupt... ..l35/26 X 1,215,369 2/1917 l-lant 135/26 2 Claims, 6 Drawlng Flgures FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,115,417 10/1961 Germany ...135/20 PATENTEDHARZI i972 SHEEI 1 OF 2 Fig. 2

PAIENTEDmm I972 SHEET 2 BF 2 Fig. 5

COLLAPSIBLE UMBRELLA FRAME This invention relates to frames for telescopic umbrellas, the frames having at least two, and in particular three telescopic stick parts, the upper of which is nearest to the crown of the umbrella and has the smallest cross section, and the lower of which is nearest to the handle end of the umbrella and has the greatest cross section, and a main and an auxiliary slider which slide on the stick and which support a canopy frame, the auxiliary slider sliding on the stick between the main slider and the crown, and the main slider being able to be locked to the stick when the canopy frame is open and having an internal cross section corresponding to the external cross section of the lower stick part.

Arranging the umbrella stick in such a way that the upper stick part has the least cross section gives a stronger structure, but difficulties arise in locking the main slider when the umbrella canopy is fully open, because the main slider must have an internal cross section at least as great as the external cross section of the lowest stick part. Since the lowest stick part has a greater external cross section than the upper stick part, the internal cross section of the main slider is also greater than the external cross section of the upper stick part, to the effect that when the canopy is open, the main slider is a very loose fit over the upper stick part, which thus causes difficulty in effectively locking the main slider on the upper stick part. This difficulty increases with the number of stick parts. It has therefore been the practice to renounce the advantage of greater strength, and arrange the stick parts in such a way that the upper stick part, nearest to the umbrella crown, has the greatest cross section and the other stick parts telescope into this upper part.

The object of the present invention is to retain the advantageous arrangement of the stick parts, the upper stick part, nearest to the umbrella crown, having the least cross section, and yet give the main slider a secure hold in its locking position when the umbrella canopy is fully open.

With this aim, according to the invention, in an umbrella frame of the kind described, we provide means on the upper stick part which fits into the bore of the main slider when the main slider is in its locking position with the canopy frame open so that the main slider is held steady on the upper stick part. In this way there is formed, near the umbrella crown, what is in effect a portion of the upper stick part whose external cross section is the same as that of the lowest stick part this portion serving to locate the main slider radially, with respect to the stick axis. The portion is preferably arranged so that the main slider is accurately centered with respect to the axis while being firmly supported without free play.

The means on the upper stick part for steadying the main slider in its locking position with the canopy frame open may be achieved by expanding the upper stick part near the umbrella crown, so as to give it a larger cross section over the upper part of its length, that is to say by expanding the upper end of the upper stick part. Alternatively, it would be possible to mount a short piece of tube over the upper end ofthe upper stick part, the piece of tube then being fixed either to the umbrella crown, or to the upper stick part. However this would involve an increase in weight. An alternative method which does not bring any increase in weight would be to press a few projections outwards from the wall of the upper stick part. The envelope of the projections would be equivalent to the sleeve formed by the tubing mentioned above. However this method would require an extra manufacturing stage.

In a preferred form of the invention, the main slider steadying means on the upper stick part is a sleeve which slides freely over the upper stick part, the sleeve having a radially outward projection at its upper end which is engaged by the upper edge of the auxiliary slider when the canopy frame is opened, to push the sleeve towards the crown. The sleeve can be made of a light weight plastics, and during assembly need merely be pushed over the upper end of the umbrella stick.

A sleeve of this kind is advantageous in particular in those cases where the main slider has a locking catch which engages,

when the umbrella canopy is open, in a recess, which may be a slot or a notch, in the umbrella stick. In this case, it is merely necessary to make the length of the sleeve less than the distance between the umbrella crown and the recess.

When a sleeve is used in this way, to act as a supporting collar, the lower end of the sleeve, that is to say the end furthest from the umbrella crown, is preferably formed with a conical lead-on portion to facilitate the movements of the two sliders from the stick proper on to the sleeve.

In many cases however, the frames of telescopic umbrellas are so arranged that the distance travelled by the auxiliary slider is limited to the upper stick part. In this case, the invention may be performed particularly conveniently, by giving the auxiliary slider an extension at its lower end, the main slider riding on this extension in its locking position as it does on the sleeves or projections of the previous alternatives.

Several examples of an umbrella frame in accordance with the present invention and with a three-part stick are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of one example in the extended position and showing only one rib and strut assembly of the canopy frame in the position adopted by the parts when the canopy is closed;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section through the upper part of the frame shown in FIG. 1, drawn to a larger scale and showing the positions adopted by the parts when the canopy is open;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross section corresponding to FIG. 2, but illustrating a second example;

FIG. 4 shows a partly sectioned side view of a third example showing the parts in the positions adopted when the umbrella is extended and open;

FIG. 5 is a side view, corresponding to FIG. 1, but showing a fourth example; and,

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section, drawn to a larger scale, through the upper part of the umbrella frame represented in FIG. 5, the parts being in the positions adopted when the canopy is open.

The umbrella frame shown in FIG. 1 has a stick having a circular cross section and consisting of three telescopic parts 1, 2 and 3. At the lower end of the frame there is a handle 4, and at the upper end a crown S of the usual kind. Of the three stick parts 1, 2 and 3, the lowest part 1 has the greatest diameter, and the highest stick part 3 the least diameter. Mounted to slide on the stick there is a main slider 6 and an auxiliary slider 7. The main slider 6 has a catch 6a spring mounted in its wall. When the umbrella canopy frame is closed the catch 60 locks into a recess in the lower stick part 1, at a position near the handle 4, as shown in FIG. 1. The catch 6a can be released by hand, and when the canopy frame is fully open it locks into a recess 16 in the upper stick part 3 at a position near the umbrella crown 5, as shown in FIG. 2.

The canopy frame consists of a number of telescopic ribs (only one being shown in the drawings for clarity) each consisting of an inner rib part 8 pivoted to the crown 5, and an outer rib part 9 which telescopes into the inner rib part 8. The inner end of each outer rib part 9 is pivoted to a main strut 1 l by means of an articulation sleeve 10. Each main strut is pivoted to the main slider 6. Pivoted to each main strut 1 1 at a point 13 there is an auxiliary strut 12, whose other end is pivoted to the auxiliary slider 7.

The main slider 6 must of course have an internal diameter corresponding to the external diameter of the thickest stick part 1. The internal diameter of the main slider 6 is therefore greater than the external diameter of the middle and upper stick parts 2 and 3, giving an undesirable Iooseness when the umbrella canopy is locked open. To prevent this looseness, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 there is a sleeve 14 fixed on the upper stick part 3, the sleeve external diameter being practically the same as that of the stick part I. When the umbrella canopy is locked open the main slider 6 is located positively over the lower end of this sleeve 14, correctly centered on the axis X- X of the umbrella stick, as shown in FIG. 2. The sleeve 14 at the same time also centers the auxiliary slider 7, increasing the stability of the canopy.

The lowermost edge of the sleeve 14 is shaped to form a conical lead-on so as to facilitate the movement of the sliders 6 and 7 on to the sleeve 14 and into the positions shown in FIG. 2. The sleeve 14 extends downwards from the umbrella crown 5, and terminates at its lower end above the recess 16 into which the catch 6a engages when the umbrella canopy is locked open.

FIG. 3 shows a second example in accordance with the invention, in which there is no sleeve 14, but instead, a number of projections 17 which have been pressed outwards from the wall of the upper stick part 3. These projections 17 have the same function as the sleeve 14 in FIG. 2, and define an envelope with a diameter substantially equal to that of the sliders 6, 7. They serve in the first place to center the main slider 6, but there can if desired be enough projections to center the auxiliary slider 7 as well.

FIG. 4 shows an example which is particularly simple to manufacture. Whereas in the example shown in FIG. 2 the sleeve 14 is fixed to the stick, or to the umbrella crown, and whereas in FIG. 3 the arrangement consists of projections 17, in contrast to this, in FIG. 4 there is a light plastics sleeve 18 which is slidable on the upper stick part 3. The external diameter of the plastic sleeve 18 is practically the same as that of the lower stick part 1. The plastics sleeve 18 therefore centers the two sliders 6 and 7, as does the sleeve 14in FIG. 2. At its upper end the plastics sleeve 18 has a radially projecting collar 19 which rides on the upper end of the auxiliary slider 7, that is to say when the auxiliary slider 7 moves upwards it engages the collar 19 and thus moves the sleeve 18 upwards with it into the position shown in FIG. 4. At its lower end the plastics sleeve 18 has a conical shaped lead-on edge 15, as has the sleeve 14 in FIG. 2. The plastics sleeve 18 is long enough to center the main slider 6, but leaves the locking recess 16 clear.

The centering of the main slider 6 can be effected in an even simpler fashion in the case where, as shown in FIGS. and 6, the travel of the auxiliary slider 7a, when the umbrella canopy is being closed, does not bring its lower edge down beyond the upper stick part 3. Under these circumstances the auxiliary slider 70 is always on the upper stick part 3, as shown in FIG. 5, even when the umbrella canopy is completely closed. As shown in FIG. 6, the auxiliary slider 7a can under these circumstances have an internal diameter corresponding to the external diameter of the upper stick part 3, to the effect that the auxiliary slider 7a is always positively centered on the stick part 3. For centering the main slider 6, the auxiliary slider 7a has a lower extension 20, whose external diameter is approximately equal to that of the lower stick part 1. The extension 20 therefore serves to center the main slider 20, as does the sleeve 14 and the sleeve 18, and as do the projections 17 in the other examples.

I claim:

1. In a frame for a telescopic umbrella, comprising at least two telescopic stick parts forming a telescopic stick, a crown at the upper end of said stick and means at the lower end of said stick for the attachment of a handle, the upper of said stick parts nearest said crown having the smallest cross section of said stick parts and the lowest of said stick parts nearest said handle end of said stick having the largest cross section of said stick parts, a main slider slidable on said stick, bore means on said main slider defining an internal cross section corresponding to the external cross section of said lowest stick part, an auxiliary slider slidable on said stick between said crown and said main slider, a canopy frame, means supporting said canopy frame on said main and auxiliary sliders, and cooperative locking means on said main slider and said upper stick part for locking said main slider to said stick when said canopy frame is open, the improvement wherein means is provided on said upper stick part which fits into said bore means on said main slider when said main slider is in its locking position with said canopy frame open, whereby said main slider is held steady and centered on said upper stick part, said means on said upper stick part for steadying and centering said main slider in its locking position comprising a sleeve which surrounds the upper sttck part ad acent said crown, said sleeve being freely slidable on said upper stick part, and said sleeve having a radially outward projection at its top end, whereby when said canopy frame is opened, said radially outward projection is engaged by the upper end of said auxiliary slider to push said sleeve towards said crown.

2. An umbrella frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower end of said sleeve is shaped so as to provide a conical lead-on portion to said sleeve. 

1. In a frame for a telescopic umbrella, comprising at least two telescopic stick parts forming a telescopic stick, a crown at the upper end of said stick and means at the lower end of said stick for the attachment of a handle, the upper of said stick parts nearest said crown having the smallest cross section of said stick parts and the lowest of said stick parts nearest said handle end of said stick having the largest cross section of said stick parts, a main slider slidable on said stick, bore means on said main slider defining an internal cross section corresponding to the external cross section of said lowest stick part, an auxiliary slider slidable on said stick between said crown and said main slider, a canopy frame, means supporting said canopy frame on said main and auxiliary sliders, and cooperative locking means on said main slider and said upper stick part for locking said main slider to said stick when said canopy frame is open, the improvement wherein means is provided on said upper stick part which fits into said bore means on said main slider when said main slider is in its locking position with said canopy frame open, whereby said main slider is held steady and centered on said upper stick part, said means on said upper stick part for steadying and centering said main slider in its locking position comprising a sleeve which surrounds the upper stick part adjacent said crown, said sleeve being freely slidable on said upper stick part, and said sleeve having a radially outward projection at its top end, whereby when said canopy frame is opened, said radially outward projection is engaged by the upper end of said auxiliary slider to push said sleeve towards said crown.
 2. An umbrella frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower end of said sleeve is shaped so as to provide a conical lead-on portion to said sleeve. 